We’re back with Episode 8 of the Need to Know season, digging deeper into the women who are overlooked in church history, especially the time of the Patriarchs and the Early Church. Our guests are Julie Faith Parker, and Anita Giardina Lee, both contributors to Need To Know, the book. They share about the historical contributions of women, the importance of rediscovering their stories, and how these narratives can reshape the future of the church. We emphasize the need for the inclusion of women’s voices and the power of all marginalized voices being welcomed in redefining discipleship and church leadership in this next era of the church. You’ll also hear of groundbreaking new research into Mary Magdalene, and what that means for our imagination of the apostles.

Show Notes

Link to order the book: Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It’s Essential for the Future of the Church

ReImagine by WomenCo

All women mentioned in the Bible: womeninthebible.org

keywords women in ministry, discipleship, early church, genealogy of Jesus, marginalized voices, church history, women leaders, faith, theology, church reimagining

takeaways

* Women have been active in ministry as long as men.

* Rediscovering women's roles in the early church is crucial.

* Discipleship examples from women in the Bible are abundant.

* The domestic sphere was central to early church leadership.

* Jesus' genealogy includes radical figures like Tamar and Rahab.

* The erasure of women's stories in church history is problematic.

* We must reclaim the narratives of our foremothers.

* Marginalized voices should be at the center of church discussions.

* This generation can build on the legacy of women in faith.

* Reimagining the church involves acknowledging and including diverse voices.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Need to Know

01:15 Julie's Chapter: Addressing the Abuse of Women in the Bible

09:08 Anita's Chapter: The Erasure of Women in Church History

10:42 The Early Church and the Domestic Sphere

12:36 The Church's Reinvention Every 500 Years

15:17 The Power of Hospitality and Relationships in the Church

24:02 The Importance of Telling Women's Stories in the Bible

26:21 The Bible as a Catalyst for Deeper Thinking and Change

29:53 Rediscovering the Stories of Women in the Church

31:26 Challenging the Erasure of Women's Contributions

32:36 The Potential of Embracing Women's History

34:44 Empowering Women to Speak and Lead

37:58 The Consequences of Treating Women Badly

42:38 Reimagining the Church: Embracing Inclusivity and Equity

44:26 Women Leading the Reimagination of the Church

49:56 Mary the Tower: A Prominent Apostolic Witness

52:13 God's Design for the Church